FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2012

Third annual “Boots and Badges” competition to kick-off Memorial Day Weekend

Columbia, S.C.—The Columbia Police Department and Columbia-Richland Fire Department are partnering with the American Red Cross South Carolina Blood Services Region for the third annual “Boots and Badges” blood drive. The event will be held at the American Red Cross Columbia donation center, 2751 Bull St., 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, May 25; Saturday, May 26; Monday, May 28; and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 29 and Wednesday, May 30.

Columbia area residents are invited to show their support for local firefighters and police officers and become a hero this summer by giving blood for patients in need. To help offset the strain placed on the blood supply during the start of summer, the third annual “Boots and Badges” blood drive competition is being held to increase donations during Memorial Day weekend.

Firefighters and police officers, their family members and friends, along with community supporters are invited to participate. All donors at the “Boots and Badges” blood drive will receive a free “Boots and Badges” T-shirt, a Red Cross spirit cup, a chance to vote for their favorite “team”—“Boots”-firefighters or “Badges”-police officers. In addition, all presenting donors will be entered for the chance to win lunch for two with the fire department and police department chiefs as well as a chance to win a $1,000 gift card through the Red Cross “Spring Into Giving” promotion.

For every unit of blood collected, the Red Cross will tally one vote for the Columbia-Richland Fire Department or the Columbia Police Department based on the donors’ choice. At the end of the drive, the Red Cross will announce the department with the most votes and honor the winner with a commemorative plaque.

The 2011 “Boots and Badges” blood drive was a great success resulting in a total of 383 presenting donors and 358 units of blood collected. The Boots team, the Columbia-Richland Fire Department, won the competition with 236 presenting blood donors, while the Badges team, the Columbia Police Department, finished strong with 147 presenting donors.

To schedule an appointment to donate blood at the third annual “Boots and Badges” blood drive, contact Kimberly Reaves at 803-251-6007 or Kimberly.reaves@redcross.org.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. The American Red Cross South Carolina Blood Services Region provides lifesaving blood to patients in 54 hospitals. Approximately 500 people need to give blood or platelets each week day to meet hospital demand.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Most healthy people age 17 and older, or 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood and platelets. Donors who are 18 and younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.